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SPECIAL PROJECTS INITIATIVE
MERRI-BEK CITY COUNCIL CREATIVE COBURG TEAM
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Creative Coburg
Merri-bek City Council transformed an under-utilised supermarket into a vibrant arts space, revitalising central Coburg. The Creative Coburg project facilitated the conversion of 3,000 square metres of floorspace into low-cost arts, community, and events space to be leveraged by the struggling local arts community.
The council negotiated a low-rent lease for Schoolhouse Studios to move their studios and gallery into a Council-owned former Coles supermarket and developed a new outdoor space, ‘Coburg Courtyard,’ converting a run-down building and carpark into a lively arts and community hub.
With the council having already acquired the strategic property adjacent to Coburg train station in the early 2000’s to renew the activity centre of Coburg, they were in a unique position to leverage their owned asset. Council officers, acting as both head landlord and place revitalisation professionals, facilitated a five-year sub-lease from Coles to Schoolhouse Studios at a deeply discounted rate to enable the transformation of the building to become a new creative heart for central Coburg.
Schoolhouse Studios has consistent demand for their affordable studio spaces and venue, including as a venue for the RISING festival. With over 60 artists regularly attending the site along with regular artist and community hires, the building and its surrounds have since seen a resurgence of creative activity and have prompted increased visitation and trade in Coburg.
The venue also provides a new, COVID-safe, outdoor space for play and rest that has enabled opportunities for new and renewed social connection in the wake of the pandemic. This has responded directly to a community call for support with social connection (reported as the second highest community need in Merri-bek during the pandemic). The accessibility and inclusiveness of the space has gone on to further support groups with more prevalent social isolation including older people, those with a disability, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
